Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made quick work
of Vasek Pospisil while Canadian rising star Milos Raonic shut down Julien
Benneteau in Friday's opening Davis Cup singles rubbers.
Former Australian Open runner-up Tsonga, No. 6 in the world, won 91 percent of
his first serves (41-of-45) and saved the only break chance against him as he
defeated Pospisil 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 in the first singles match of the week on the
indoor hardcourt at Thunderbird Sports Centre.
Raonic thrilled the hosting Canadian crowd by firing off 24 aces to
Benneteau's seven as he edged the Frenchman 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 in the nightcap.
Saturday's doubles will pit Benneteau and Michael Llodra against a
Canadian duo of Pospisil and doubles great Daniel Nestor, while Sunday's
reverse singles call for Tsonga to face the 21-year-old Raonic and Benneteau
to meet the 21-year-old Pospisil. Tsonga titled in Doha last month, while
Raonic was a winner in Chennai in January.
Team France is playing without three of its top-four competitors this week.
France owns nine Davis Cup titles, with its last one coming in 2001, while
Canada has never reached a World Group final. France is 1-0 all-time against
the Canadians, with the victory coming in Paris back in 1966.
The winner here will face the Switzerland-USA victor in the quarterfinals in
April.
The Sports Network